Mend with stitches (4)
I believe the answer is:
darn
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">mend with stitches</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this before)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for darn that I've seen before include "Mild oath; repair (socks)" , "Stitch" , "Mend with stitches" , "Repair (sock)" , "Repair by sewing, socks perhaps" .)